Free Whitepaper
Download the whitepaper and get deep insight into how overheating during the PBF-LB/M process results in significant alterations to microstructures depending on part geometry and layer times.
Smart Fusion improves the homogeneity of microstructures and hardness significantly by ensuring a consistent thermal signature during the build.
Overheating is a major challenge in laser-based powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-LB/M) which affects the buildability of complex features and flat overhangs, the quality of downfacing surfaces and the material properties of finished parts. While we have demonstrated in the past how Smart Fusion, our feedback loop control system, can reduce the need for support structures, this article aims to showcase its effect on thermal history and microstructure formation. In collaboration with the Institute of Photonic Technologies (LPT), we compared standard open-loop processes with Smart Fusion closed-loop processes in geometries that provoke heat accumulation. We found that Smart Fusion improves the homogeneity of microstructures and hardness significantly by ensuring a consistent thermal signature during the build.
This whitepaper gives answers to:
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How overheating occurs in PBF-LB/M
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Which changes in microstructure can occur in overheated parts
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How Smart Fusion enables more homogeneous microstructures and properties
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